Folding umbrella.



No. 688,974. Patented Dec, l7, [9.0L

. J. M. SHAFFEB.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

(Apphcahon filed Apr 24 1901 (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

JOHN M. SHAFFER, OF ELKI-IART, INDIANA.

FOLDING UMBRELLA.

SEEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,974, dated December 17, 1901.

Application filed April 24, 1901. Serial No. 57,211. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. SHAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkhart, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to umbrellas, which may be described as collapsible, folding, or

telescopic.

The object is to provide an umbrella-frame which will permit of being extended so as to make a full-sized umbrella of the proportions desired and will also permit of folding or telescoping, so that the folded umbrella will be one-half or one-third the length of the umbrella before folding.

I do not, of course, desire to be limited in the size, proportions, or identical relations of the several parts; but I have illustrated one form of my device in which my invention is set forth.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an umbrella-frame. Fig. 2 is the same with the parts telescoped together and certain parts removed. Fig. 3 is the lower part of the handle detached. Fig. 4 is a detail of the top portion detached. Fig. 5 is a detail of a modification of the lower ferrule. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the joint between the two telescopic portions. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on a line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.

A is the upper portion'of an umbrella-handle; B, the lower portion, preferably internally screw-threaded at O to engage the externally-threaded projection D on the handle A.

E is the handpiece, attached to the handle part B.

F is a ring permanently secured at the upper end of the handle part A, and G G are the upper sections of the ribs, pivoted by means of the Wire H to the ring F and provided each at its lower end with the enlargement J, having the eye K,by means of which the cover may be secured at this point to the lower extremity of the upper rib-section and having an aperture properly shaped and longitudinal With the rib-sections to receive the lower rib-section L. This lower section has at its lower end an eye M, whereby the lower edge of the cover may be secured to the lower extremities of the lower rib-sections, and the section L has at its upper end a projection N, adapted to receive the upper rib-section G. These two rib sections are preferably so shaped as to lie one within the other, and this they can easily do if both are made of the usual umbrella-rib material, which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section. The upper extremity of each of the lower rib-sections is pivoted on one of the spreader-bars O, and it is at its other end pivoted on the wire P on the ring R, which is attached to the sliding ferrule S. This ferrule isslotted at S to be engaged by the spring-catch S in the handle portion B, and thus prevent the ferrule from rising when it has been pulled down to keep the umbrella in its normal condition out of use, but not telescoped. S is a similar spring-catch to hold this ferrule when it is elevated to hold the umbrella open.

T is a loose ferrule on the handle portion B. It is associated with the spring-catch T. The ferrule may be held in its position out of action by an abutment against the hand proper, E, or by frictional contact with the spring-catch T, or it may be slotted at T to be engaged by the spring-contact T.

U is the top portion, having the sliding part U, which comes down upon and covers the upper part of the ring F and the upper portion of the cover of the umbrella gathered thereabout.

U is a screw-threaded projection adapted to be received in an internally-screw-threaded part at the upper end of the handle portion A.

As previously suggested, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown. The two telescopic rib portions might be arranged otherwise than indicated; but I think that what I have shown is the best arrangement. These two ribs, thus shaped and sliding one within the other, constitute a guide one for the other throughout their entire lengths.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: The cover, which I have not thought it necessary to show, would be attached in the usual manner at the top and also at the lower edge and also about midway to the lower end of the upper rib-section. If

by the spring-catch S and held in position,

the umbrella being open. If, on the other hand, we desire to telescope the umbrella, it i should be partially opened, as indicated in Fig. 1. The ferrule T should be slipped up so that its lower edge is engaged by the top of the spring-catch T, whereupon the parts will assume the position indicated in Fig. 1, the lower end of the ferrule S resting upon the upper end of the ferrule T. If now the upper rib-sections G be grasped by the hand near their lower extremities and forced inwardly, it is obvious that the two rib-sections will slide slightly one upon the other, for as the rib-section G and its associated spreader 0 form a triangle with the handle parts A and B the pressure on the rib-section G will tend to bring the two parts G and 0 into parallelism with the handle A B; and thus the two rib-sections will slide one on the other, because the rib section L is attached to the spreader O and the spreader O is supported against movement at its lower end by the engagement of the ferrule S with the ferrule '1. By now pressing the ferrule S upwardly the rib portions L will slide upwardly along the rib portion G until the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 2. The upper partUis now unscrewed and the lower handle portion B is unscrewed, whereupon the parts may assume the positions indicated at Figs. 2, 3, and 4. They can then be packed away in any desired manner and in a space much shorter than that required for an ordinary umbrella. It will be seen that by this arrangement of parts I am able to use for the rib-sections and the spreader the ordinary umbrella-rib material.

I claim 1. In an umbrella, the combination of a sectional handle with telescopic ribs and ferrule, and spreaders from the ferrule to the ribs, and a stop-ferrule below such spreaderferrule, and a spring-catch for such stop-fen rule adapted to engage and hold the ferrule at two separate points along the line of the handle, so that by pressing the parts together around the handle, when such stop-ferrule is in use, the lower telescopic sections will be started in their telescopic motion.

2. In an umbrella, the combination of a sectional handle with telescopic ribs, a ferrule, spreaders from the ferrule to the ribs, a stop ferrule below such spreader-ferrule, means for holding such stop-ferrule at two separate positions, so that by pressing the parts together around the handle when the stop-ferrule is in one position, the lower telescopic sections will be started in their telescopic motion.

JOHN M. Sl-IAFFER.

Witnesses:

HOMER L. KRAFT, EMILY SCHAFF. 

